Automobile-signal.



1.1. NORTON. -AUi 0MOBlLESlGNAL-. APPLICATION FILED NOV; 29. 1916. 1,291,613, Patented 14, 1919.

o- 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

072,1 VEIIIV r00 A TTOR/VEVS Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IZI/WE/VTOR I Br- 'fied adapted for use with motor vehicles oi.

n'rfrnn @FFICE.

JOHN I". NORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILiINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Application filed November 29, 1916.

any character, 'Wherein a normally inoperative signal is provided arranged at the rear of the vehicle in a conspicuous position, and so connected to the brake operating mechanism of the vehicle that when the said mechanism is operated to brake the vehicle the signal will he moved into operative position to indicate to following vehicles that the vehicle in question is about to stop or check its speed.

A further object is to provide a signal adapted to be illuminated and arranged to serve as a tail lamp and having means for supporting a number plate and for ilhnnimating the said plate.

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of an automobile f *ame provided nith the improved signal,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the signal in inoperative position,

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the signal with parts broken away,

Fig. 4 is a section on the inn: lt at Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the ar-m -provided with a bearing socket 13 at the rear and at one side ol; the socket 12 for v the pin 3 of the bracket, and a 95 rows adjacent to the line,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line of Fig. 4, looking in the direction oi? the arrows adjacent to the line,

Fig.6 is a section through the hinge connection of the signal, and

Fig. 7 is a section through the operating pulley.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with the frame 1 'of a motor vehicle, and the signal is arranged at the rear of the vehicle, being connected With-a bracket 9, secured to one of the parts of the vehicle; This bracket, has an upstanding pin 3, which has op positely extending Wings or vanes as shmvn in Fig. et for a purpose to be presently dew scribed.

The signal comprises a casing cousistmg of a body 4, which is open at one tace, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

iPatented. Jan. 14, 1919.

Serial No. 134,181.

a sheet 5 of glass or other transparent material. lS arranged at the open side. It

will be noticed from an inspection of Figs. l and 5 that the casing is enlarged at the open side to form a species of ledge or. shoulder 6, against which the sheet abuts, and a frame 7 of angular material is seated in the enlargen'ient outside of the glass to hold the glass in place. A slot 8 is provided at one end of the casing through which the glass ma he removed or replaced, and

a latch plate 9 is pivoted to the casing at the. center of the slot, the said plate being adapted to extend across the,slot to hold the glass in place asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the plate is pivoted to the casing so that t may be turned to release the glass.

A legend arranged on the glass, as for instance. the words Go slow. painted or etched on the glass, and the glass is n'cferably colored red. The interior ot' the body of the casing is lined with a wilt-cling medium indicated at 10,

and the interior of the said casing is free from angles and corners as shown to pro- Yide For a maximum reflection of light.

source of light as for instance, an in: condos-cent lnzln ll. is arranged within the casing, the bulb being screwed into a socket 12 at the-rear and center of the casing. This bulb is supplied with current in any suitable n'nmncr, and it will be evident that when the bulb is illuminated the interior of the casing will be illuminated and the light rays will he reflected through lthe sheet hearigig'the legend. The casing is engaigin set screw i is tin-ended through the socket into engagement -with the-pmto prevent bearings 18 on the hedv'of the casing, and

a coil spring '19 is arranged on the red at the center thereof, the said spring being connected with the rod and the plate 15 in such manner that the spring will normally holdthe plate 15 closed. that is, in the position of Figs. 4 and .vlechanlsm to be later described, is con- They are 75 for closing the 100 l directly above the number plate for per- "mitting the bulb 11 to illuminate the numerals on the number plate 21. The casing is also provided at its inner end with an open- .ing 2%, and the plate or shutter 15- is provided with a central opening 25 which will permit a red light to'be visible When the bulb is illuminated, thus serving as a tail lamp.

One end of the shaft 17 is extended as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and a pulley 26 is secured to the extended end. This pulley has an annular groove near its inner end as shown, and a pin 27 is arranged transversely of the groove. A-flexible member 28 as for instance, a chain, is connected with the pin 27 at one end, and the other end of the flexible member is connected with one end of a link 29. This linkextends forwardly to' a connection with the operating lever 30 of the brake mechanism, and

the link is so connected with the brake mechanism that when the brake pedal 31 is operated to set the brake traction will be exerted on the flexible member 28, and

this flexible member is so arranged on the pulley 26 that when traction is exerted on the chain the shaft 7 will. be rotated in a direction to swing the shutter into the dotted line position of Fig. 5.

In use, the device takes the place of the ordinary tail lamp, being suppqited on the tail lamp bracket 20 which is arranged 'on the hood or on the vehicle as may be desired. The chain 28 winds uponthe .pulley 26 in a direction such that when the chain is pulled the chain will be turned to open the shutter. The spring 19 normally holds the shutter closed. but Whenever the pedal 31 is depressed to set the brake,

the shaft 17 will be rotated in a direction to swing the shutter downward to expose vthe legend. It will be understood that the operating. member for the shaft 17' may be connected at any desired point.

I claim: 7 I I A signal comprising a casing having a transparent rear wall provided with a leg end adapted to be illuminated byajsource of light, a shutter for closing over the transparent rear wall and lunged at the bottom' ofthe casing, a. pintle pin for hlngmg the shutter to the casing and extended beyond the casing at one end, a Wheel on the said end, a flexible member winding upon the wheel at one end and adapted for connection at the other end with'the brake operating mechanism of a vehicle, a. spring ,for normally holding the shutter closed, said shutter having a central opening andithe casing having an opening at its under side, and means for supporting a number plate at the said opening to be illuminated by the light shining therethrough. I JOHN L. NORTON. 

